California is currently experiencing one of the worst wildfires in its history. The wildfire spreading across Los Angeles has been raging uncontrollably for three days, further fueled by strong winds, engulfing vast areas. Hundreds of homes have been burned, and at least seven lives have been lost.
Authorities in Los Angeles are struggling to manage this devastating disaster. Firefighting equipment and personnel are being brought in from neighboring counties, but the fire remains unchecked.
This raises the question: why has this wildfire become so severe and uncontrollable? According to U.S. officials, as reported by CBS News, prolonged drought and strong winds have caused the fire to spread rapidly.
Meanwhile, the BBC notes that climate change is also being considered as a contributing factor to the wildfire’s intensity. However, the exact reasons remain unclear.
Dave Acuna, a battalion chief for the California Fire Service, mentioned that 95% of wildfires in California are caused by human activity. However, officials have not clarified how this particular wildfire started.
One of the reasons for the fire’s rapid spread is California’s “Santa Ana Winds.” These winds blow at speeds of up to 97 kilometers per hour from dry regions or desert environments toward the coast, significantly contributing to the wildfire’s expansion.
CBS has reported that these Santa Ana Winds are fueling the Los Angeles wildfire, reducing hundreds of homes to ashes and rendering thousands of people homeless.
The dry and warm Santa Ana Winds are naturally powerful. They originate from the dry regions of Nevada, Utah, and southern California. These winds are inherently warm because they form in desert-like environments such as the “Great Basin.”
Alex Hall, director of the Environmental Institute at the University of California, stated that scientists are unsure how climate change impacts the Santa Ana Winds. However, rising temperatures tend to exacerbate wildfires.
While drought and strong winds are intensifying the wildfire, experts also point out that climate change is a significant factor in such natural disasters. U.S. government research has found a connection between large wildfires in the western region and climate change.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) states that climate change, with its excessive heat, drought, and warming atmosphere, is one of the main reasons for the large wildfires in the western United States. The combination of warm summers and lack of rainfall has particularly worsened California’s situation.
In Southern California, wildfire season is usually considered to last from May to October. However, Governor Gavin Newsom has previously said that wildfires have become a perennial or long-term problem for the state, with no specific season.